Acute pancreatitis in two five-day-old Appaloosa foals.
Abstract: Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) in foals is rare and treatment has not been documented. This paper describes the clinical, haematological and ultrasonographic findings as well as attempted treatment of SAP in two 5-day-old Appaloosa fillies. Clinical signs, including colic, diarrhoea and coma, may be mistaken for sepsis or neonatal encephalopathy. Hyperlipaemic serum and peritoneal fluid, and elevated serum and peritoneal fluid amylase and lipase activities aided the diagnosis. Severe acute pancreatitis should be included as a differential in an acutely ill foal with diarrhoea, colic, cerebral cortica dysfunction and hyperlipaemia.
Publication Date: 2012-05-19 PubMed ID: 22594035DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00435.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article presents a detailed case study of two Appaloosa foal siblings suffering from severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), an uncommon condition in horses, with the aim of contributing to differential diagnostic processes and treatment attempts.
Background
- Acute pancreatitis, particularly its severe form (SAP), is rarely observed in foals, making it a significant point of study for veterinary medicine.
- The paper emphasizes the importance of considering SAP in differential diagnosis when typical signs such as colic, diarrhoea, and cerebral dysfunction are observed in foals.
Clinical Cases
- Two 5-day-old Appaloosa fillies were studied, both exhibiting symptoms common to other illnesses like sepsis and neonatal encephalopathy, including colic, diarrhoea, and coma.
- What set their condition apart and pointed towards pancreatitis was hyperlipaemia (excess fat in the blood) and elevated levels of two digestive enzymes (amylase and lipase) in both the serum and peritoneal fluid. These are typical signs of pancreatitis.
Diagnosis and Treatment Attempt
- The foals were diagnosed with SAP through clinical, haematological (study of blood), and ultrasonographic findings.
- The study also detailed the attempts to treat the foals’ SAP, which can be particularly challenging considering the lack of documentation and established practices for the condition in the species.
Research Implications
- This case study was designed to help vets distinguish SAP from other health problems in foals that display similar symptoms.
- By associating previously overlooked clinical signs like hyperlipaemia and elevated amylase and lipase levels with SAP, the paper expands our understanding of diagnostic criteria for the condition in foals.
- This, in turn, paves the way for more targeted and effective treatment approaches in the future.
Cite This Article
APA
Ollivett TL, Divers TJ, Cushing T, Priest H, Dawson DR, Peters R, Stokol T.
(2012).
Acute pancreatitis in two five-day-old Appaloosa foals.
Equine Vet J Suppl(41), 96-99.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00435.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Clinical Sciences, Cornell University, New York, USA. tlo7@cornell.edu
MeSH Terms
- Acute Disease
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Female
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Pancreatitis / pathology
- Pancreatitis / veterinary
- Shock, Septic / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Gomez DE, Radtke CL, Russell LA, Lopez A, Wichtel MW. Acute pancreatitis following granulosa cell tumor removal in a mare. Can Vet J 2015 Oct;56(10):1049-52.
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